With deployers gone, 606th base mission continues

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Christopher Ruano
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
The deployed members of the 606th Air Control Squadron returned to their home station Jan. 15 after several months in southwest Asia.

But while the deployed conducted their mission in far off countries, the people still at Spangdahlem remained to fulfill their squadron's promise to be "the inspector of the skies."

While in minimum manning stage, the unit kept busy with training, Temporary Duty locations, and serving the base's needs.

A key trainer for the deploying 606th ACS Airmen, 1st Lt. Covey McAllister, 606th ACS deputy chief of current operations from Bitburg, Germany, stood

"We have been supporting several TDYs since the 606th left. We went to Israel for a month for air battle exercises. We also provided President of the United States support in South Africa, twice" said 1st Lt. Covey McAllister, 606th ACS deputy chief of current operations from Bitburg, Germany.

In addition to all that, the team underwent plenty of training including the Ready Aircrew program, a curriculum for operators to remain proficient on their equipment, McAllister said.

"It's very hard for a Control and Reporting Center to get all of their operators to complete all of the tasks that are required," he said. "This year for the first time ever we completed the Ready Aircrew Program with minimum manning, which is awesome."

While their comrades away, the home squadron assisted the deployed team whenever they could.

"There are always issues not expected, but there are processes in place to take care of them," McAllister said. "We had a couple of requests once they were down there for more people. We sent two extra people and got them spun up, trained and out the door."

The 606th ACS also took care of the deployed members' family, inviting them to squadron events and making sure they had turkey on Thanksgiving and gift cards were given to dependents during Christmas.